Ethnicity, Social Spaces and Cross-cultural understanding in Contemporary Yangon, Myanmar

2015 Fiscal Year Research-status Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K01903
• Research Institution: Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
• Principal Investigator: MANI A 立命館アジア太平洋大学, アジア太平洋学部, 教授 (40331102)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: Ethnicity / Inter-ethnic relations / Myanmar / Yangon / Religious tolerance / Bamar / Urban landscape / Tamils

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

The study examined the relationship between ethnicity and cross-cultural understanding in Yangon, Myanmar. In FY2015, a field trip was undertaken from December 2015 through January 2016. The first half was spent at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies Institute (ISEAS) to meet with scholars on Myanmar as well as to collect all published materials and secondary data. In the second half, direct fieldwork was undertaken in Yangon.

The above was done according to the proposed plan of research for the study. It was largely done to collect data through in-depth interviews with various communities, heads of religious institutions, and by attending various festivals and events such as funerals, marriages and private gatherings. All social sites were photographed and a voice recorder was used to tape all interviews. 967 photos and 40 hours of recording were done. Besides, published materials were collected as they became available. Individuals were asked the following questions: Their life trajectory - how they came to be what they were at the time of meeting with me; The persons with whom they interact on a daily, weekly, monthly and casual basis; The persons they work with in their business or paid jobs; The persons from whom they receive alms (only for Buddhist monks); Intra-ethnic and Inter-ethnic friendships and marriages; Role of religion; Participation and Attitudes towards inter-ethnic and intra-ethnic organizations; and, Questions relating to clarification of issues raised in the conversation.

Current Status of Research Progress

2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.

Reason

Transcribing of field interviews is being done. This is taking time and is expected to be done by end of July 2016. Based on the completion of the transcribed data, the following approaches are being taken to proceed with the research: (1) Bring together the published literature and the field data to plan a few papers and the outline of a monograph; (2) Present two papers at two conferences in Japan as well at the ISEAS in Singapore. The latter presentation is to listen to comments of scholars working on Myanmar; and (3) plan for the next stage of the field research in late 2016 / early 2017.

By that time, it is expected that an initial draft of portions of the monograph will be ready for further rewriting. It will also indicate the type of additional data to be collected in the next round of field research.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

The following plan will be followed:

1) Complete the transcribing of interviews by end of July 2016. 2) Plan a paper for presentation at a conference / seminar in Japan - August 2016. 3) Plan the draft of monograph - September 2016. 4) Plan a second paper - October to December 2016. 5) Plan for field trip. 6) Carry out second field-trip in January / February 2016.

Causes of Carryover

In FY2015, the researcher performed a preliminary observation of the field sites in order to assess the extent to which research assistance would be required for the collection of data. Consequently, employment of research assistants was deferred to the following year. In addition, travel and lodging expenses were conserved for further use the following year.

Expenditure Plan for Carryover Budget

The carried over funds will be fully used this year during fieldwork in Singapore and Myanmar.